Interface for Navigating Imagery

• US 20130086517A1
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Matthew Robert, Van Lancker, Willem, Leicht, Amanda Marie, Harrelson, Christopher R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/005 Map projections or methods associated specifically therewith
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence

Abstract

A user interface for rotating imagery among a plurality of canonical views of a geographic area of interest is disclosed. The interface includes at least one rotation control icon for rotating the imagery among a plurality of canonical views of the geographic area, and a direction indicating portion that indicates a compass direction associated with the canonical view presented on the display device. In particular implementations, the interface can be configured to come into view over the imagery whenever a user navigates to a particular view of the imagery where a plurality of canonical views is available. The motion of the navigation control interface appearing into the imagery is intended to draw attention to the control interface to inform the user that additional canonical views are available.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting a user interface on a display device, the user interface including a display area for presenting imagery, the imagery comprising a canonical view of a geographic area;

presenting a navigation control interface overlying the imagery, the navigation control interface configured to rotate the imagery among a plurality of canonical views of the geographic area upon user interaction with the navigation control interface, the navigation control interface comprising a direction indicating portion that indicates a compass direction associated with the canonical view presented on the display device;

receiving a user input directed to the navigation control interface; and

rotating the direction indicating portion and the imagery synchronously in response to the user input directed to the navigation control interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation control interface comprises a rotation control icon for rotating the imagery among the plurality of canonical views.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rotation control icon comprises a static icon and the direction indicating portion comprises a single rotating compass needle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the direction indicating portion and the imagery synchronously comprises:

rotating the direction indicating portion of the navigation control interface in response to the user input; and

rotating the imagery synchronously with the direction indicating portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a tilt interface for tilting the imagery, the method comprising tilting the direction indicating portion and the imagery synchronously upon user interaction with the tilt interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises restoring the imagery to a predetermined orientation in the display area upon user interaction with the direction indicating portion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the navigation control interface comprises:

determining whether a plurality of canonical views associated with the imagery are available; and

presenting the navigation control interface overlying the imagery if a plurality of canonical map views associated with the imagery are available.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method comprises hiding the navigation control interface when a plurality of canonical views associated with the imagery are not available.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein presenting the navigation control interface overlying the imagery comprises sliding the navigation control interface into the display area over the imagery.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises presenting a primary control interface overlying the imagery, the primary control interface for zooming, panning, or tilting the imagery.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises:

determining when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the primary control interface; and

hiding the navigation control interface when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the primary control interface.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

determining when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the at least one rotation control icon;

receiving imagery data associated a second canonical map view when the user manipulable cursor is located proximate the rotation control icon; and

displaying the second canonical view upon user interaction with the rotation control icon.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the imagery is one of oblique view imagery, satellite imagery, or street map imagery.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of canonical views comprises a north view, a south view, an east view, and a west view.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the imagery is street view imagery.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of canonical views comprise at least one view generally along a predominant road depicted in the street view imagery and at least one view generally perpendicular to the predominant road in the street view imagery.

17. A system for navigating images;

comprising;

a display device;

an input device;

One or more processors; and

at least one memory coupled to the one or more processors, the at least one memory comprising computer-readable instructions for execution by the one or more processors to cause said one or more processors to perform operations, comprising;

presenting a user interface on the display device, the user interface including a display area for presenting imagery, the imagery comprising a canonical view of a geographic area;

presenting a navigation control interface overlying the imagery, the navigation control interface configured to rotate the imagery among a plurality of canonical views of the geographic area upon user interaction with the navigation control interface, the navigation control interface comprising a direction indicating portion that indicates a compass direction associated with the canonical view presented on the display device;

receiving a user input through the input device directed to the navigation control interface; and

rotating the direction indicating portion and the imagery synchronously in response to the user input directed to the navigation control interface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the navigation control interface comprises a static rotation control icon for rotating the imagery among the plurality of canonical views and the direction indicating portion comprises a single rotating compass needle.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the operation of rotating the direction indicating portion and the imagery synchronously comprises:

rotating the direction indicating portion of the navigation control interface in response to the user input; and

rotating the imagery synchronously with the direction indicating portion.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations comprise:

determining whether a plurality of canonical map views associated with a geographic area are available; and

presenting the navigation control interface overlying the imagery if a plurality of canonical map views associated with the geographic area are available.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations comprise:

presenting a primary control interface overlying the imagery, the primary navigation interface for zooming, panning, or tilting the imagery;

determining when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the primary control interface; and

hiding the navigation control interface when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the primary control interface.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations comprise:

determining when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the at least one rotation control icon;

receiving imagery data associated a second canonical map view when the user manipulable cursor is located proximate the rotation control icon; and

displaying the second canonical view upon user interaction with the rotation control icon.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the imagery is one of oblique view imagery, satellite imagery, or street map imagery and the plurality of canonical views comprises a north view, a south view, an east view, and a west view.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the imagery is street view imagery, and the plurality of canonical views comprise at least one view generally along a predominant road in the street view imagery and at least one view generally perpendicular to the predominant road in the street view imagery.

25. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instruction for execution by a processor, causing the processor to perform the operations of:

presenting a user interface on display device, the user interface including a display area for presenting imagery, the imagery comprising a canonical view of a geographic area;

presenting a navigation control interface overlying the imagery, the navigation control interface configured to rotate the imagery among a plurality of canonical views of the geographic area upon user interaction with the navigation control interface, the navigation control interface comprising a direction indicating portion that indicates a compass direction associated with the canonical view presented on the display device;

receiving a user input directed to the navigation control interface; and

rotating the direction indicating portion and the imagery synchronously in response to the user input directed to the navigation control interface.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the navigation control interface comprises a static rotation control icon for rotating the imagery among the plurality of canonical views and the direction indicating portion comprises a single rotating compass needle.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the operation of rotating the direction indicating portion and the imagery synchronously comprises:

rotating the direction indicating portion of the navigation control interface in response to the user input; and

rotating the imagery synchronously with the direction indicating portion.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the operations comprise:

determining whether a plurality of canonical map views associated with a geographic area are available; and

presenting the. navigation control interface overlying the imagery if a plurality of canonical map views associated with the geographic area are available.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the operations comprise hiding the navigation control interface when a plurality of canonical views associated with the imagery are not available.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the operations comprise:

presenting a primary control interface overlying the imagery, the primary navigation interface for zooming, panning, or tilting the imagery;

determining when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the primary control interface; and

hiding the navigation control interface when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the primary control interface.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the operations comprise:

determining when a user manipulable cursor is located proximate the at least one rotation control icon;

receiving imagery data associated a second canonical map view when the user manipulable cursor is located proximate the rotation control icon; and

displaying the second canonical view upon user interaction with the rotation control icon.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the imagery is one of oblique view imagery, satellite imagery, or street map imagery and the plurality of canonical views comprises a north view, a south view, an east view, and a west view.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the imagery is street view imagery, and the plurality of canonical views comprise at least one view generally along a predominant road in the street view imagery and at least one view generally perpendicular to the predominant road in the street view imagery.